Industries in Europe and in countries like New Zealand ascribe to, and operate according to, free market mechanisms. -Nick Inskip It’s quite eye opening to see the claims made around the world against countries and companies accused of dumping products in markets. Whether it’s the USA investigating steel towers for the wind industry, imported […]

There is only one way we will catch Australia in wage rates and standard of living, and that is by growing our manufacturing sector. Various reports have concluded productivity in New Zealand is low compared to other developed countries and while that is true as an average across the whole economy, it is not true […]

Right now you can follow the adventures of 20 year-old Joel McGregor of Oamaru, who is undertaking one of the most extreme general engineering apprenticeship opportunities in the world – living and working on Scott Base in Antarctica. The position calls for an apprentice to work as a ‘Summer Engineer’ at Scott Base, to become […]

NZTE and TechNZ (the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology’s business investment programme) have appointed the first organisations to our new joint network of 14 Regional Business Partners and are close to finalising the entire network of ‘NZTE-TechNZ Regional Business Partners’ who will become a natural first point of contact for businesses around New Zealand […]

I like the attitude of Peter Rocque, the boss of Acton Tools who believes in the value of skills and craftsmanship to resurrect the global economy. He also believes it is time to bring in the redundant, the newly arrived immigrants, the graduates and give them a chance, reinforced by industry knowledge. Help train them, […]

How to Break Bad News to Your Boss By Megan Alexander, general manager Robert Half New Zealand No one likes to be the bearer of bad news. Even if you have a positive relationship with your boss, there are conversations you probably dread, such as explaining that you made a mistake on an important report. […]

It is good to see Phil Goff and David Parker start to flesh out the intent to reform monetary policy signalled late last year, says the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA). Early this year we saw the International Monetary Fund conclude that small open economies; big on the rhetoric of single lever (interest […]

It’s happening everywhere. Downsizing, that is. Since the economic turmoil of some 18 months ago, life hasn’t been quite the same, has it? And in a country as small as New Zealand there comes a time when the downsizing needs to stop before everyone goes nuts. The Government is currently cracking the whip through the […]

The cracks haven’t yet appeared in New Zealand, but the impact of “staff recession stress” can be significant for employers. Human Resources Institute of New Zealand member, organisational psychologist Eugene Ng provides some advice for employers on managing stress levels in the current environment. I’m seeing a change in the work ethic of New Zealand […]

Gerry Brownlee drew down the curtain on the poor-but-pure era of New Zealand political thinking in his opening address to the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy conference at Queenstown recently. Soon after the address, NZ Manufacturer interviewed Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Economic Development & Minister of Energy Resources. You must have been disappointed, alarmed […]